Previously:

I gingerly get up from the bed and walk to the closest chair I could reach. My foot doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would but still has a bit of a twinge. I look around again to see if my host is anywhere nearby but my hunger gets the best of me and I daintily pick the smallest morsel of meat and pop it in my mouth.

Lamb. My absolute favorite.

I take another piece and then another, until I finally say, “the heck with it!” and grab a lamb chop and bite into it. It is at that moment that I take a bite that see my mystery man walk out of a bathroom with billowing stream trailing behind him. A lone towel adorns his waist and I’m sure I look dumbfounded by his glistening bod accented with taunt muscles in all the right places.

Oh, how I wish I were that towel around his waist…

I finally realize that I am definitely gawking and I swallow the meat in my mouth very audibly and watch with my undivided attention as he saunters over to me. He reaches out his hand and swipes the corner of my mouth with a single finger stating, “you missed some,” before he proceeds to like his finger tip clean with an audible smack. I lick my lips feel ravenous quite suddenly and once again my pulse is in my ear as I watch him disappear behind the door adjacent to the kitchen.

God, what has gotten over me recently?!

There is something about my would-be savior that ignites feelings that are at times indescribable. I can’t help but think that I have no control when he is around. I don’t spend too long mulling over what I have discovered about myself when the subject of my desire walks out clothed and makes eye contact. There is something so shouldering about the looks that he gives me that sends a hot jolt down between my legs. I squirm uncomfortably, no sure if it is because of the intensity of his stare, me trying to dissipate the sudden warmth that in my lower body.

When my freshly-bathed host comes to the table, he extends his hands and I look at it rather lamely before a hearty chuckle rumbles in his chest and he clarifies, “No need to shy away from food on my account. You’ll need all the strength you can get in order to heal properly.”

I nod in understanding and hand my plate over to him silently, watching as he adds yet another lamb chop, hearty potatoes and roast beef, steak, and some mixed vegetables at the side. He sets down my plate and I look at it knowing full well that I would not be able to finish it all and as though he were reading my mind, he comments, “Don’t worry, you can just leave what you can’t finish.” Taking his seat, he continues, “Living here by myself, I only know about my own needs so I tend to forget not everyone has the same appetite that I have.”

“Thanks for the food.” I offer meekly, realizing that it must be alone for him out here when no one else is around except for whatever wild beast are out there. He nods in acknowledgement and tuckers in. I didn’t want to make the same mess earlier as well as a reminder of the still lingering warmth in my body, I eat something safe like potatoes and keep my eyes on my food, lest my lingering looks on my host gives away just how much his presence affects me.

For the most part, we eat in companionable silence and I marvel at this man’s skills for cooking. Each morsel of food was cook to perfection; the vegetable not too soft or hard and the meat was lightly spiced with herbs and melt-in-your-mouth tender. I was in heaven.

I heard a scraping of the chair and cautioned a look up to see my host holding his own empty place and extends his hand at me once again. I thank him and hand my own into his grasp as he walks away, coming to my senses and start to stand to help out. I scoot out of my chair a bit to get a better grip on table and the ridge of the chair when I hear a voice, tut, “ah-ah-ah.” Before I could even plant my foot solidly on the ground, I feel his arm loop the one gripping the chair redirected to his neck as he leans in further and captures my lower back and legs.

“Oh, I can manage. I got to the table just fine.” A bit of panic in my voice at the sudden guilt that this man was going out of his way of opening up his house to me and though I hurt myself, he needn’t carry me around. I stare up at his light slate eyes, feeling as though I can drown in their intensity, I suddenly feel that warmth build up into a warm flush that is probably evident in my cheeks as well.

“Nonsense. I wouldn’t want you to reinjure your ankle when it’s on the mend.” Not hearing any of my insecurities deftly standing with my as though I weight nothing. I know I’m not a that tall or heavy, but I am also not that petite either. For him to heft me around like a sack of potatoes is rather impressive but then again, maybe all he does is chop up wood and haul dead weight all day.

“Where are we going?” I question as we didn’t head in the direction of my bed but towards the door.

“I thought you could use a bit of fresh air seeing as you were cooped up here all day. There were not clouds earlier so it should be a clear one tonight.” He offered in explanation as he opens the front door.

The night’s air instantly sends a shiver though my body and I press myself closer into his arms for more warmth. Seeming to know what I was doing he pulls me closer and turns his body towards the breeze to shield me. He only walks a few feet along the cabin before he sets me down on a wooden bench, handmade by the looks of it before he sets me down gently, careful about my injured foot.

I look up at the sky for the first time tonight and see that the array of stars before. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many stars in the sky and so clearly in my life. Leaning forwards, I try to recognize any of the constellations that I’ve learned about in school but realize that I don’t recognize any of them at all. It weird but somewhat fitting for my situation. The irony is not lost on me as I am stuck in the middle of nowhere, injured and not even the stars can lend a hand to help.

Leaning back overwhelmed suddenly by my situation and helplessness, I feel an arm curl around my shoulder and I don’t feel as cold and alone as I did a moment ago. My body, craving for more heat, instinctively presses further into his warmth and I wrap my arm around his midsection in hopes of trapping more heat between us. I feel my body pulled closer to his own and lay my head against his chest, listening to the rhythmic breathing and beat of his heart, his hand playing with my hair as we stare off into the twinkling lights above us.

I heard a sigh, feeling the movement of his chest as he exhaled deeply and look up to see his face. He was still staring off into the nightscape and then I heard the low timber of his voice.

“I used to lay out at night on nights slightly warmer than these and watch the stars as they blink or fly across the sky.”

“Did you camp with your family often?” I ask more out of curiosity than to break the silence.

“Something like that.” He replies a bit evasively before continuing. “We were like nomads and used to wander around from place to place. Many times, we’d stay out in the middle nowhere, often out in woods like these or plains and enjoy each other’s company.”

“It sounds like you had a lot of great memories from your childhood.”

“Hm.” Is his only reply. He is quiet for a few more moments before he continues, “I felt safe when I was with my family, especially here under the stars.”

He looks down earnestly at me and I feel myself drawn to him. I lick my lips nervously and he smiles genuinely down at me, a hand coming up to cup my cheek and I feel myself lean into his open palm. I look into his eyes a bit, feeling calmer than I had in a long time. Leaning in and feeling his hand move towards the nape of my neck and into my hair, bringing both of us closer. I close my eyes, knowing that we are only a small breadth away from one another.

A sudden snap in the woods broke the spell of the moment of the much anticipated union of our lips as we both look towards the source. I am not sure if I am seeing shadows or it’s my mind playing tricks on me but I could swear that someone is there. I hear a small, yet deep growl come from beside me and am shocked to see that my companion is emanating the menacing sound but also the ferocious expression takes me aback. His gaze is so intent on the woods before us that I am now positive that someone was indeed there if not watching us, then definitely within the vicinity. The tension I can visibly see in his shoulders is enough to raise my heckles as I shudder to think that here, in the middle of nowhere, there could be someone out there keeping an eye on us.

Not wanting to see what could be out there, I raise my hand to his cheek and snap him out of his defensive state enough for him to look back at me. I must look concerned because his anger softens to a scowl and when I stroke his cheek with the back of my fingers, he relaxes before he heaves a sign resignation.

“Let’s go inside before it becomes too cold.” He offers, getting up and squatting down once again to scoop me up in his arms. I watch him carefully as he glances once again to the boundaries of his property and proceeds to let us in.

He sets me on the bed I’ve started to call my own and quickly walks to the kitchen where he grabs a jar of something and a few rolls of scrap material. I quickly deduce he’s going to change my leg wrapping once again, and confirm it as he pulls up a stool and unbinds my old bandages, proceeds to add new ointment and rewraps it once again.

“Is that too tight?” He inquires as he checks how tightly wound it is on my food.

“Not at all.” I answer honestly. I wonder where he learned to heal and dress wounds because the efficiency and skill he has shown with my ankle is rather impressive and endearing at the same time.

“Good.” He intones, giving it a final wrap and tug before pinning it into place. “It’s coming along really well for only one day so I think it’ll be okay in another day or two.”

“That’s a relief.” I exhale at the good news.

“So quick to want to run away?” He teases and winks at me.

“No, no! I just get a bit stir crazy sitting in one spot for long periods of time, even if it’s a few hours straight. It’s just been a long day.”

“You just need rest then. I’ll leave you to get some sleep.”

Just as he’s about to get up and good, I impulsively reach out and grab his hand, pull hard towards me so that he falls back to his stop on the bed a bit off balanced. I lean forward, grab with both my hands on his collar of his shirt and pull him towards me stopping just short of where we left off outside before the interruption. My eyes are half lidded as I look at his lips and into his surprised gaze only to see a heated look in his eye. Once our eyes meet, he closes the gap instantly and I feel his callused hand against my cheek as we tentatively brush against our lips slowly and sensually. It isn’t long before our heated kiss escalates and I find myself reclining into my bed, my companion following in suit leaning over me.

I look back down at my partner when I hear a soft rumbling noise, almost like a growl come from him. He’s looking out that window as well but the expression on his face is angry and almost frightening; something I never thought I would feel coming from him. I cautiously place a hand on his cheek and watch as his expression melts from hostile to resignation, before he rests his forehead on me. I gently stroke his hair away from his eyes and loosely encircle him in my arms, willing him to relax. The ‘mood’ seems to have fizzled in that instance but I find his proximity comforting and felt tired all the same. My eyes cannot stay open any longer so I let sleep take me once again.